Marines' Chief: Military To Look More At Terrorism

Gen. Krulak Visits Norfolk Navy Base

January 29, 1999|By WILLIAM H. MCMICHAEL Daily Press

NORFOLK NAVAL STATION — The increasing threat of domestic terrorism demands that the U.S. military take a far greater role in defending the nation against - and responding to - terrorist attacks, the commandant of the Marine Corps said Thursday.

Gen. Charles C. Krulak also told reporters at Norfolk Naval Station that the military might end up being forced to take the offensive against terrorists who attempt to disrupt critical military and civilian computer systems - what has become known as cyber-terrorism.

"If you know somebody's about ready to attack you in that manner, maybe the best thing to do is zap them first," he said, quickly adding, "whether or not that is going to be Step One is certainly not up to the commandant of the Marine Corps."

The Pentagon formed a Joint Task Force for Computer Network Defense on Dec. 30 to develop and carry out a response to such attacks. But it is now precluded from attacking other systems.

Krulak spent 1 1/2 hours talking to, and answering questions from, about 250 Marines before meeting reporters. He said the time had come to take seriously what he termed "homeland defense."

"What this nation is coming to grips with is that there are people out there who don't necessarily have to send a missile into this country - but, in fact, can bring a nuclear warhead or, more importantly, a chemical or biological agent, into the United States in something as simple as a suitcase," Krulak said.

"If that's the case - and we think it is - and there are people out there who are crazy enough - and I'll use that word - to act that way," he said, "then we owe it to this nation to have some kind of capability to ... stop it from happening at all. But if it happens, more importantly, to manage the consequences of that incident."

The New York Times reported Wednesday that the Pentagon would ask President Clinton to appoint a military commander to oversee defense of the continental United States. The commander would head a Joint Task Force for Civil Support and would have the authority to organize and mobilize civilian emergency personnel. The commander also would develop plans for the individual service branches to support federal agencies during crises.

The move, yet to be announced officially, drew fire in the report from civil libertarians. They were fearful that the plan could allow the military to slowly gain the power to step on individual rights in the name of national defense. A Pentagon official denied any intention to seize such control.

Krulak didn't specifically address the report, yet spoke as if the plan were a foregone conclusion - and as if civilian police agencies would some day be able to call upon the military for support in the event of terrorist struck.

"I think that there will be times when the civilian law enforcement will bring with them our capability," Krulak said. The military would remain under the control of civilian authorities in such instances, he said.

Krulak - well aware that the Posse Comitatus Act bars U.S. troops from taking part in police work within U.S. borders - said the threat of terrorism could spur a change in the law.

He said that though he doubted it ever would, the possibility existed.

"I do not think that the time has come for us to do away with Posse Comitatus," Krulak said. "That may happen in the future, as things get far more, ah, scary for the nation.

As for bringing Marines under any sort of civilian control, he said, "Oh, I think that's gonna happen, not possibly. We do that right now." Under Krulak's direction, the Marines in 1996 formed the Chemical-Biological Incident Response Force. It was designed to respond to attacks similar to the 1995 sarin nerve-gas attack in Tokyo, launched by a Japanese terrorist group.

The force, Krulak said, "has never been under the command of a Marine." Fire chiefs and mayors have performed those duties, he said.

Krulak also boosted a "homeland defense" role for the Marines during his presentation. It was a detailed-laden pep talk that reinforced Marine tradition and put a positive spin on the service's future. "Absolutely, we're going to play," he said. Using the military acronym for "continental United States," he said, "We're going to be fighting in CONUS, too."

Marine reservists would play a large role in such a response - probably the lead role for the service, with the active-duty side providing support as needed, Krulak said.

- William H. McMichael can be reached at 247-7862 or by e-mail at bmcmichael@dailypress.com